Clasp.



J. F. DANIELS.

CLASP.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 13, 1914.

Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

i eras JOHN F. DANIELS, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO RALPH 1V1. WHITMAN, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

CLASP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

Application filed November 13, 1914. Serial No. 872,012.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, J orrn F. DANIELS, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented new and useful Improvements in Clasps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to clasps, and consists in certain improvements, hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the claims, upon clasps of the kind shown in an application for patent filed by me April 2, 1914:, Serial No. 828,991.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate certain embodiments of the invention: Figure 1 is a front view of a clasp containing the invention; Fig. 2 is a rear view of said clasp; Fig. 3 is a face view of one of the jaw members on an enlarged scale; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section on an enlarged scale showing the clasp having jaws of the form illustrated in 3; Fig. is an enlarged sectional detail showing a modification of the shield fastening projection hereinafter described; and Fig. 6 is a similar sectional detail showing another modification of said shield fastening pro jection.

The clasp comprises two gripping aws a and b. Each gripping jaw is laterally elongated so as to afford a broad gripping area less likely to tear or injure the fabric clasped between the jaws than in clasps where the ,strain is concentrated within a small area. The jaw a is provided with a stem (4 and the jaw 7) is provided with a stem b. The two jaw members are pivoted together by providing the stem 1) with an aperture 6 through which the stem at extends and in which it is fulcrumed. At each side of the aperture 6 the stem 1) is provided with offsets b which engage shoulders a at each side of the base of stem 0.. The jaw Z) is also provided with a central tongue 6 extending across the aperture 6 and engaging an abutment or shoulder a on the other jaw member to prevent the dislodgment of the stem a from the aperture 1 and to hold the shoulders a in engagement with the offsets 6 while at the same time permitting one jaw member to swing freely on the other.

The jaw members are supported on a shank (Z to which the stem is slidably connected in the manner set forth in my said former application. The shank (Z has fixed to its front side a headed stud d which engages the keyhole aperture Zr" in the stem 7). .When the jaws are in shortened or contracted position onthe shank (Z the larger part of aperture b will pass over the head of stud (Z whereupon, by sliding the jaws outward or lengthwise to their extended position on shank d, the narrower part of the aperture If will engage the neck of stud cZ 'and lock the jaw members in closed position as shown in the drawings. Projections b may be provided at each side of the aperture 72 to cooperate with the head of stud (Z and prevent the accidental disengagement of the interlocking stud and aperture when the clasp is closed.

The clasp is suspended from a loop or other fitting g which is carried by a strap or webbing E. The clasp is hung upon the the loop 9 by means of a hook (Z at the upper end of the shank (I. Said shank d is provided with a central resilient tongue (Z struck from the material of the shank and bent to form a detent d which partially closes the hook opening and thus yieldingly holds the loop 9 in place in the hook.

Each jaw is provided with a gripping pad h on the face of the jaw held in place by a flange in, which pad may be made of rubber or other suitable material to afford a yielding and frictional gripping surface.

S is the shield which in its general shape follows the contour of the clasp when in operative or extended position and prevents any part of the metal clasp from coming in contact with the wearer. The shield S may be made of fabric, rubber or other suitable material and may be either permanently or separately connected to the clasp. Preferably the shield S will be attached at one point to the shank (Z and at another point to the under jaw member 5. As herein shown the shield is fastened at its upper point by a fastener g which may consist of a wire loop, stitches of thread, or the like, passing through the shield and through a fastener projection on the tongue (Z of the shank (Z. It is desirable that this fastening projection should be not only at the rear side of the shank and exterior to the hook but that it should not project beyond a plane passing through the back of the hook (Z and the back of the aw 7) of the clasp, since a projection of that sort on the back of the clasp would inevitably cause discomfort to the wearer. The fastening projection is therefore situated in front of said plane passing through the back of the hook and of the clasp. In the form shown in Fig. 4 such fastening projection consists of a bend or loop 1" near the upper end of tongue cl, situated forward of the plane as above de fined and constituting with shank (Z an eye just below the widest part of the hook,

through which eye the fastener Q passes.

In the form shown in I ig. 5 the fastening projection consists of an eye made by bending the end of the tongue (F, as shown at t, just above the wide part of the hook (Z and forward of the plane above defined. The fastener 9 passes through the eye 6.

In the form. shown in Fig. 6 the fastening projection is formed by bending the end of the tongue cl into an eye it situated just below the widest part of th hook (Z and forward of the plane above defined.

The lower part of the shield S is secured to the jaw b by means of a. fastener 7 which consists of a wire loop, stitches, or the like, encircling the tongue 7)". Both of said fasteners Q and 9 may be of a permanent form, or, if desired, either or both may be of any well known form of separable fasteners so that the shield S can be removed if desired for the purpose of washing or replacing it.

I claim:

1. A clasp comprising a pair of jaw members one of which has a centrally located tongue, a shank on which said jaw members are supported having a tongue, and a protective shield attached to said two tongues.

2. A clasp comprising a pair of jaw menr bers, a supporting shank on which said jaw members are mounted to slide lengthwise, and a protective shield attached at one place to the upper end of said shank and at an other place to the rear jaw member, said shield being adapted to permit the lengthwise extension and shortening of said jaw members and shank.

Signed by me at Providence, Rhode Island, this 11th day of November 19H.

JOHN F. DANIELS.

Witnesses JAMES J. MoGovEnN, ALICE M. DAWSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. C. 

